WHERE IS THE
PROGRESS
By Kevin S.
Boyd
Calling
blinding arrogance, or over optimistic wishful thinking, this US
administration insists that progress has been and is made in the
war of “terror” which includes, in their mind, the war on Iraq.
It is abundantly clear that all indicators point to a regression
and catastrophic miscalculation by the ideologues of this
administration that will cripple the country, and possibly the
world, if we stay the course charted by this executive regime.
The pictures of the US troops
sitting on the street curbs after the fall of Baghdad while some
people are trying to pull down the symbols of the Saddam’s regime
was expressive of a troubling feeling in the face of the US
service men and women: Now what!
There was no doubt that the
overwhelming force of the US army can never be matched by any
other organized conventional army today. However, the disconnect
of the Arab rulers from their masses must be factored in when
explaining the fast defeat of the Iraqi Army instead of giving all
the credit to the military planners and executioners
notwithstanding US army capabilities and superiority. A case in
point is the ability of Sadr to command an army made out of
volunteers that was formed under and during the occupation. In
contrast, it can be argued that the Iraqi military disintegration
in 30 days is more indicative of the weakness of Arab governments.
The US policy makers may have been
aware that Saddam lacks the popular support to survive the war,
but it seems they have trusted that their presence there will
easily substitute for the Iraqi government, the Iraqi army and the
Iraqi security apparatus. They banned all Ba`thists from
positions of power, dissolved the army, and brought it Western
educated exiles who lived for decades outside the country. By the
time the US and the Governing Council was preparing for
celebrating one year of “independence”, the resistance spread
beyond the Sunni towns and provinces to include followers of
Shi`ite leader Muqtada al-Sadr.
As I write these words, the US
administration and the Interim Iraqi Government are preparing the
world to the idea of a limited election as they admit that they
have now lost control of more cities and they predicted that more
may follow. Fallujah, Ramadi, Samarra, part of Baghdad, Najaf, and
Kufah are virtually enclaves that are under the direct control and
influence of resistance leaders. Mujahidin groups are in control
of many cities, provinces and districts just like the Mujahidin
took over Afghanistan’s cities one after another during the Soviet
occupation. If this war continues for two more years, Iraq will be
transformed into Afghanistan: regional war lords and tribal chiefs
exerting virtual control over everything.
So where is the progress when all
indications point to the disintegration of Iraq into small
enclaves ruled by various ideological and religious groups? Where
is the progress if Iraq is on the path to small safe havens for
extremists?
Kevin S. Boyd
is a graduate student specializing in International Affairs,
with special focus on the Middle East politics
